The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has launched an investigation on the orders of the IGP to arrest a group of foreigners who hacked into three ATM machines of a state bank and stole over Rs.10 million.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the Galle, Hikkaduwa and Baddegama Police revealed that the suspects have entered into the ATM booths and attached an electronic device to the ATM. They have taken all the money inside the machine by hacking into the machine’s software system.

Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said that these foreigners had entered into three ATM booths of a State Bank located in Hikkaduwa, Karapitiya and Baddegama in the early hours of last 30th.

On the 26th, this group of foreigners had attempted to steal money by breaking into an ATM machine of another state bank in Narahenpita.

They have worn face masks and caps so that their faces could not be recognized.

Once the money was stolen from the ATM, the machine had still indicated that there’s money inside the machine. The bank officials were able to detect the theft when investigating this fact since money had disappeared without any customer withdrawing cash.

These foreigners had entered the bank in Hikkaduwa at around 1.40 am on the 30th. They had arrived in a car and withdrawn Rs.4,680,000 from the ATM machine.

Afterwards, they have gone to the ATM in Karapitiya at around 3.22 in the morning. They have only been able to withdraw Rs.275,000 since the security officer on duty at the bank had been present.

The third robbery had taken place at the Baddegama ATM where they stole Rs.5,700,000.

They have commited the crime by affixing a sticker to cover the security camera installed inside the ATM booth.

Investigation carried out into the number plate of the car in which the foreigners were travelling in, revealed that the car belongs to a person from Gampaha.

However, further inspections revealed that the suspects have used a vehicle with a fake number plate.

A senior police officer said that these foreigners have come from Ambalangoda and it appears that they have used the expressway.

He said that an investigation is being conducted into this as well.

Source: Dinamina